Third Annual Guitar Festival at SUNY Plattsburgh
On Oct. 3 and 4, the SUNY Plattsburgh department of music will present the third annual
Guitar Festival directed by Dr. William Pfaff, composer and assistant professor of
music at the college. All festival events, two concerts and a master class, are free
and open to the public.
The festival opens with a classical guitar recital by guest artists Ted Mann and Logan Gabriel on Friday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.in Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall. An informal question and answer period will follow the recital. Mann is an active composer and performer and teaches at Keene State College in Keene, N.H.
On Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. in Room 300 of Myers Fine Arts Building, the festival
performers will host a special master class on composition and improvisation for the
guitar. Festival guest artist Dr. Whitman Brown will join Mann, Fratino and Pfaff
at the Guitar Master Class. An active composer and guitarist, Brown heads the composition
and theory program at the Walnut Hill School, a private performing arts high school
located outside Boston, Mass.
"Guitar players of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. Just bring your
guitar," Pfaff explained.
"Last year, our participants included community members and students and faculty from SUNY Plattsburgh. Working together, individually and in small groups, we explored folk, rock, jazz, blues and classical music." said Brown.
Also on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall, the Guitar Festival Concert will showcase the guitar in a variety of musical styles from classical to contemporary and feature several world premieres. Mann and Gabriel will perform duo classical guitar compositions. Brown will premiere a new work for solo electric guitar, and Pfaff, Brown and Mann will premiere Pfaff's new work, "Tracery," for three electric guitars and computer synthesized sounds.
In addition, the festival concert will feature Michael Angelo Fratino, Montreal-based guitarist and SUNY Plattsburgh guitar instructor. Fratino will perform works for contemporary solo classical guitar and present three new progressive rock works composed in collaboration with Brian Nopper. Ryan Meath will present a new work for electric guitar and looping effects. The concert will conclude with a duo performance by Fratino and his Montreal collaborator, Chris Stesanyshyn.
For more information please contact Pfaff at [email protected]
or 518-564-2469.